Food Storage - Start buying extra cans or bottles of food when you go shopping to begin your food storage. Review the food storage category to learn more information and tips on starting your food storage program. Food storage can not be done in a week....you will be working on it always.
To Begin:
The easiest way to begin your preparedness program is to start with the category, Important phone numbers. It is simple to do and is extremely important to have emergency phone numbers and convenient phone numbers listed. Click onto the picture to get all the information about this
Next:
When you are done with the phone numbers, look at the following list by going to the month and week that you are presently in and then you can continue your preparedness program.
Click onto the picture for more information about the category
Make a list of important phone numbers and put them next to your phone. Some people put the list in an acetate to keep it clean. This is not only for emergencies but for convenience. Why have to look up a phone number that you use on a regular basis!! Also put a list in your glove compartment of your car, in case of an emergency while on the road. Some people put this list on a colored index card for better visibility. Also put a list in your 72 hour kit. If you have already done this, perhaps it is time to update the list.
What is your alternative heating source? If you do not have one, consider getting one. Do you have enough fuel for your heating sources? (gas, propane, wood, kerosene, wood, etc.) Do you have lots of matches or lighters? What are you going to use in your 72 hour kit for heat? Do you have enough blankets for your beds in your house?
Time to do some mending or sorting of clothes. Get rid of clothes you no longer need. Make room for new ones. Have you stored different size clothes for children to grow into? Do you have basic sewing skills? If not, start taking lessons. It is time to learn how to sew!! Have you stored thread, buttons, etc. so you don’t have to hurry to the store when items are needed? What clothing and sewing items do you need in your 72 hour kit? Vacuum seal your underwear and socks for your 72 hour kit to keep them dry.
photocopy your important papers and send a copy to a relative or friend. Or scan the information on your computer, burn a disc and send the disc to a relative or friend for safe keeping. It is easy to update once you have photocopied or scanned the items. Include pictures!!!! Also put a copy in your 72 hour kit.
Remember to think “Is this purchase a WANT or a NEED?” Review your finances and see how you can improve. Make a budget or plan a budget. Spend wisely. Keep trying.
Do you have a radio? Do you need more batteries? Do you want to learn about Ham Radios? Does your neighborhood use the Red Cross Emergency Communication system? If not, you might want to start it in your neighborhood. If you have already done this, review this with your neighbors. What did you put in your 72 hour kit for communication?
Lashing is a very good skill to have. Talk to a boy scout and learn how to lash, or use the information from this website. Store rope in your 72 hour kit to use to lash. If you already know how to lash, review the skill. Also, the ability to use a compass is a good skill to learn.
Each family member should have a picture of their family in their wallet or backpack. Also, put a family photograph in each of the 72 hour kits for your family. You might want to laminate the pictures. If you already have a picture in your 72 hour kit, you might need to update it.
What fire starters do you have for your alternative heat source and cooking source? If you have some, do you need more? What do you have in your 72 hour kit as fire starters?
review what you have and what you still need for your kit. Replace expired first aid items and food. Replace seasonal clothing or clothes children have outgrown. Plan a summer camping trip with the family to test to see if there is anything else you need in your kit. Check the batteries in your flashlights throughout your house and your kit. Change the batteries in your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector. Change your clocks in your house for daylight savings time (“spring” ahead).
rotate your water storage. Get new drinking water for storage and use the old water for use in washing or sanitation. Get some purification tablets or water purifier bottles. Do you have extra filters? Do you have water stored in your 72 hour kit or someway to purify water? If you have a water softener in your home, do you have extra water softener salt?
Review and update your insurance policies, IRA’s, etc. Also, photograph or video your valuables and your furniture for insurance purposes. Send a copy to a relative or friend.
Do you have fire extinguishers in several places in your home? Do you know how to use them? Replace the batteries in your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector. Do you have a fire escape plan for your family? If so, review your fire escape plan with your family. Practice - Practice - Practice
Look in your medicine cabinet or first aid box in your home and car and check the expiration dates on medications and replace items that have expired. Review basic first aid skills. Get instructions if necessary by taking a class or talking to a nurse. What first aid items does your family need in their 72 hour kit? Is your tetanus shot up to date?
Plant a garden. Depending on where you live, this might be too early in the season to plant a garden. If so, make adjustments with this schedule of “Prepare by the Week”. Learn a new skill or plant something new just for fun. Do you have all the tools you need for gardening? Can you share your garden with another family? Have you stored extra seeds for another year to plant?
Make a list of what causes you stress and see if you can make things easier for yourself. Sometimes identifying problems helps to solve them. Go to lunch with a friend. Sometimes sharing helps.
What is your alternative cooking source? Discuss with your family how you will cook if there is no electricity. Make dinner with your alternative source and see how you do. What is your cooking source in your 72 hour kit?
Time to make an extra set of keys. Put a car door key in your wallet in case you lock your keys in the car. Make a set of keys to give to your neighbor or friend in case there is an emergency at your house and you are not home. (your neighbor or friend can take care of the problem); and make a set of keys for your 72 hour kit. Also, put a book or games (some kind of activity) in your 72 hour kit.
Choose a tornado & earthquake shelter in your home. Put some blankets, food, water, source of light, first aid items in this area or practice grabbing your 72 hour kit when there is a tornado or earthquake watch & warning. Learn about hurricanes and what you should do.
Study what snakes are in your area. Learn to identify them. Study the animals and insects in our area also. Do you have enough insect spray to protect your family? Do you have a snake extraction pump kit?
Do not forget to store these items also, the convenience alone is worth it. You don’t want to hurry to the store because you ran out of any of these items. What personal hygiene items do you need in your 72 hour kit?
Since you have put a date on the cans and bottles in your food storage, you can easily go through your food storage and check the dates to see if anything is too old to use. If you have not dated things, it is time to start. Rotate your storage so that you are not wasting any food!!! Keep a magic marker in your food storage area so you can mark the purchase month and year on all cans and bottles as you are putting your food on the shelves.
Review your fire escape plan with your family. If you do not have one, make one now. Practice your escape route going to your designated meeting place. Do you need to purchase a ladder to escape from an upstairs window? Hang a whistle on a child’s doorknob to use only in case of fire - it is easier to find a child by hearing a whistle instead of a little voice.
What if you get a flat tire = do you have a jack in the car? Do you have a spare tire? Do you know how to change a tire? Do you have “fix a flat” product in the car to fix the tire instead of changing it?
Discuss what food each family member likes and what food can be stored for expanded food storage. Make a menu. Set money aside so you are able to purchase extra food for your food storage shelves.
What is your alternative light source? Do you need more candles or candle holders, oil lamps or oil, flashlights or batteries? Do you want a rechargeable flashlight or solar powered flashlight? What is your light source in your 72 hour kit? Have you stored extra light bulbs for the convenience of not having to go to the store when a bulb goes out.
Park far away from the store so you HAVE to walk. Roll our ankles and wrist or do leg lifts while watching TV. Also, Water - Time to rotate your water or store more in your home.
What if there is a problem with your furnace or heat pump - do you know what to do? Have you had a furnace check up? If you have filters, have you been changing them? Do you store extra filters? Do a maintenance check before cold weather!!! Do you know where the circuit breaker box is? Are the breakers labeled in ink so you can read them? Do you know where the shut off valve is to the gas? Review what to do if there is a gas leak. What if there is a problem with the water heater or the water in your home. Do you know how to turn off the water valve?
time to review what you have in your 72 hour kit. Check for expired medications. Replace food and seasonal clothing. Also change the batteries in your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector. And change your clocks in your home (“fall” back)
Evaluate what tools you need in your 72 hour kit, in your car and around the house. Purchase what you can and make a list of what you still need. Good Holiday, birthday or anniversary presents!
DECEMBER
Spiritual - At this holiday season, review ways to be “Spiritually prepared”.
Any preparedness item is a wonderful holiday gift.
